At Currin, Wuest, Mielke, Paul & Knapp, P.L.L.C., we represent clients in paternity actions in Texas. Parents have legal rights, duties and obligations concerning their children but a father of a child born out of wedlock may not have these rights, duties and responsibilities without a court order. A court order establishing parentage will establish child support and set out a visitation schedule for the parents.

If you are a mother, alleged father, or other party seeking information about paternity / genetic testing in Texas, contact our law office by calling 281-359-0100.

Paternity Testing

A paternity test is the most efficient way of determining parentage when the identity of the father is not certain. Paternity testing is a necessary step when:

A biological mother is seeking child support payments and the identity of the father is not established

An biological father is seeking child custody or visitation rights

When an alleged father is determined to be the biological father of a child, our firm can help with the legal process of obtaining and enforcing child support payments, establishing conservatorship provisions and establishing access provisions.

Acknowledgement of Paternity

When a child is born to parents who are unmarried, that child has no legal father under Texas law except under limited circumstances. In order to establish legal rights as a father without filing suit and obtaining a court order, an Acknowledgement of Paternity must be signed by both biological parents and filed with the Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics. By doing so, the biological father is established as the father.

There are risks and benefits that go along with the Acknowledgement of Paternity. This agreement establishes the father’s full parental rights without any specific duties to pay child support or to return the child to the mother on a specific date and time. The father will have the same parental rights as a father who is married to the child’s biological mother.

Before signing an Acknowledgement of Paternity, it is critical to understand the full extent of the agreement and what rights and responsibilities it establishes. Talk to an attorney who can explain these important obligations and what they mean to you.

For experienced help regarding a paternity issue, contact us at 281-359-0100 to schedule your consultation.